U.S. patent application number 09/739299 was filed with the patent office on 2001-09-06 for device for mounting equipment, in particular a heat-exchange module, onto a motor vehicle.
Invention is credited to Guyomard, Jean-Nicolas.
Application Number | 20010019098 09/739299 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9553491 |
Filed Date | 2001-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010019098 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Guyomard, Jean-Nicolas |
September 6, 2001 |
Device for mounting equipment, in particular a heat-exchange
module, onto a motor vehicle
Abstract
The mounting device has at least two receiving blocks on a
load-bearing structure, each block having two face-to-face parallel
ribs, as well as at least two damping studs. Each is produced from
an elastically deformable material and includes two parallel
grooves able to interact, by sliding, with the two parallel ribs of
a receiving block. Each damping stud also has a bearing face
suitable for interacting with an item of equipment, as well as
having an abutment face suitable for interacting with the receiving
block.
Inventors: |
Guyomard, Jean-Nicolas; (Le
Mesnil Fuguet, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Liniak, Berenato, Longacre & White
Ste. 240
6550 Rock Spring Drive
Bethesda
MD
20817
US
|
Family ID: |
9553491 |
Appl. No.: |
09/739299 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/562 ; 165/69;
165/76; 180/68.4; 248/634 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 11/04 20130101;
F28F 2275/14 20130101; F16F 1/377 20130101; F16F 15/08
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/562 ;
180/68.4; 248/634; 165/69; 165/76 |
International
Class: |
F16M 013/00; B60K
011/04; F28F 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 20, 1999 |
FR |
99 16080 |
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A device for mounting equipment, in particular a heat-exchange
module, onto a load-bearing structure of a motor vehicle, which
comprises at least two receiving blocks provided on the
load-bearing structure and each comprising two face-to-face
parallel ribs, as well as at least two damping studs each of which
is produced from an elastically deformable material and includes
two parallel grooves opening out on two opposite side faces and
able to interact, by sliding, with the two parallel ribs of a
receiving block, each damping stud further comprising a bearing
face suitable for interacting with the equipment and an abutment
face suitable for interacting with the receiving block.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the damping stud comprises a body
in which the grooves are formed, and a lateral elongation attached
to the body and contributing to defining the bearing face and the
abutment face.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the grooves of the damping stud
and the ribs of the receiving block have cross sections of
complementary shapes and are suitable for frictional
interaction.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the damping stud comprises a
retaining tooth formed in projection in a groove and able to come
to bear against a rib of the receiving block in order to contribute
to immobilizing the damping stud with respect to the receiving
block.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the damping stud comprises at
least one recess suitable for increasing the flexibility in at
least one chosen region.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the damping stud is formed from a
material of the rubber or elastomer type, or the like.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the two ribs of the receiving
block are attached to two opposite side walls, suitable for framing
the two opposite side faces of a damping stud.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the two opposite side walls of
the receiving block are attached perpendicularly to a back wall
which forms an abutment for the damping stud.
9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the two opposite side
walls of the receiving block are attached to a third side wall,
which is itself attached perpendicularly to the back wall.
10. The device of claim 1, which comprises at least one receiving
block provided on an upper crosspiece of the load-bearing structure
and at least one receiving block provided on a lower crosspiece of
the load-bearing structure.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the upper crosspiece and the
lower crosspiece form part of a front facade.
12. The device of claim 1, which comprises four receiving blocks
the respective ribs of which are parallel and four damping studs
suitable for interacting respectively with these four receiving
blocks.
13. The device of claim 1, which further comprises means for fixing
the equipment to the load-bearing structure.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the fixing means comprise
clipping lugs projecting from the load-bearing structure and
interacting with complementary parts projecting from the equipment.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the mounting of motor-vehicle
equipment. It relates more particularly to a device for mounting
equipment, in particular a heat-exchange module, onto a
load-bearing structure of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Such a heat-exchange module, in its simplest version,
usually comprises a heat exchanger such as the radiator for cooling
the engine of the vehicle. Such a module may, moreover, comprise at
least one other heat exchanger, for example an air-conditioning
condenser, and, if appropriate, at least one motor-driven fan unit
suitable for generating an airflow passing through the heat
exchanger or exchangers making up the module.
[0003] This module has to be mounted on a load-bearing structure of
the motor vehicle, that is to say generally either on an upper beam
and a lower beam forming part of the body shell of the vehicle, or
else on a front facade, ready to be mounted onto the vehicle by the
constructor.
[0004] It will recalled that such a facade is a structural element
of the vehicle, which is capable of incorporating various pieces of
equipment of the vehicle, such as headlights, flashers, audible
warning device, heat exchanger, motor-driven fan unit or complete
cooling module, etc.
[0005] The heat-exchange module has to be fixed to the load-bearing
structure by means capable of absorbing the vibration and of
compensating for the variations in dimensions due to thermal
expansion.
[0006] Up to the present, the heat-exchange module has been fixed
onto the load-bearing structure of the vehicle by means of
deformable studs, generally comprising two studs of a first type
placed at the lower part of the module and two studs of another
type, placed at the upper part of the module.
[0007] These studs are usually mounted onto spigots projecting from
the manifolds of a heat exchanger of the module, which makes it
necessary to provide manifolds of a particular type, and presents
the risk that these spigots may be damaged accidentally.
[0008] Moreover, mechanical fixing means, such as pins, have to be
provided, which are affixed in order to achieve locking between the
studs and the load-bearing structure.
[0009] Consequently, this known mounting technique needs affixed
elements to be put in place, implying additional costs because of
the necessity to provide the supplementary pieces and the time
necessary to mount them in the assembly process.
[0010] The object of the invention is especially to surmount the
abovementioned drawbacks.
[0011] It envisages, in particular, proposing a mounting device
making it possible to reduce the number of pieces necessary for
assembly and to ensure rapid mounting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] According to the present invention there is provided a
device for mounting equipment, in particular a heat-exchange
module, onto a load-bearing structure of a motor vehicle, which
comprises at least two receiving blocks provided on the
load-bearing structure and each comprising two face-to-face
parallel ribs, as well as at least two damping studs each of which
is produced from an elastically deformable material and includes
two parallel grooves opening out on two opposite side faces and
able to interact, by sliding, with the two parallel ribs of a
receiving block, each damping stud further comprising a bearing
face suitable for interacting with the equipment and an abutment
face suitable for interacting with the receiving block.
[0013] Hence, the equipment is mounted in a particularly simple
way, by virtue of damping studs being interposed between the
equipment and the receiving blocks provided on the load-bearing
structure.
[0014] The receiving blocks are put in place simply by sliding, by
cooperation between the grooves of each damping stud and the
corresponding ribs of the receiving block which is to receive
it.
[0015] This solution does not require spigots to be provided on the
manifolds of the heat exchanger, nor elements affixed for
immobilizing the damping studs.
[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, the damping stud
comprises a body in which the grooves are formed, and a lateral
elongation attached to the body and contributing to defining the
bearing face and the abutment face.
[0017] According to another characteristic of the invention, the
grooves of the damping stud and the ribs of the receiving block
have cross sections of complementary shapes which are suitable for
frictional interaction.
[0018] The damping stud may comprise at least one retaining tooth
formed in projection in a groove and able to come to bear against a
rib of the receiving block in order to contribute to immobilizing
the damping stud with respect to the receiving block.
[0019] The damping stud may equally comprise at least one recess
suitable for increasing the flexibility in at least one chosen
region.
[0020] The damping stud is advantageously formed from a material of
the rubber or elastomer type, or the like.
[0021] According to another characteristic of the invention, the
two ribs of the receiving block are attached to two opposite side
walls, suitable for framing the two opposite side faces of a
damping stud.
[0022] Advantageously, the two opposite side walls of the receiving
block are attached perpendicularly to a back wall which forms an
abutment for the damping stud. These two opposite side walls are
preferably attached to a third side wall, which is itself attached
perpendicularly to the back wall.
[0023] In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the device
comprises at least one receiving block provided on an upper
crosspiece of the load-bearing structure and at least one receiving
block provided on a lower crosspiece of the load-bearing structure.
The upper crosspiece and the lower crosspiece preferably form part
of a front facade.
[0024] In a variant, these crosspieces may form part of the actual
structure of the vehicle.
[0025] In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the device
comprises four receiving blocks the respective ribs of which are
parallel and four damping studs suitable for interacting
respectively with these four receiving blocks.
[0026] Advantageously, the device further comprises means for
fixing the equipment to the load-bearing structure. These fixing
means preferably comprise clipping lugs projecting from the
load-bearing structure and interacting with complementary parts
projecting from the equipment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] In the description which follows, given solely by way of
example, reference is made to the attached drawings, in which:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a front view of a heat-exchange module mounted on
a motor-vehicle load-bearing structure by a device according to the
invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of a damping stud;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a partial view, on an enlarged scale, of the
load-bearing structure in the region of a receiving block;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 after a damping stud has
been put in place and the equipment mounted;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V of FIG. 4;
and
[0033] FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a damping stud in an
embodiment variant.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0034] In the various figures, like reference numerals refer to
like parts.
[0035] In FIG. 1 is represented a heat-exchange module 10, mounted
and fixed onto a load-bearing structure 12 of a motor vehicle.
[0036] The module 10 here consists of a radiator for cooling the
engine of the vehicle, this radiator comprising a tube bank 14
mounted between an upper manifolds 16 and a lower manifold 18.
[0037] The cooling radiator in itself constitutes a cooling module,
to which may be added another heat exchanger, such as an
air-conditioning condenser, for example.
[0038] The load-bearing structure 12 is implemented here in the
form of a front facade, that is to say of a structural element
additionally capable of incorporating other items of equipment such
as headlights, flashers, audible warning device, heat exchanger,
motor-driven fan units, etc.
[0039] The load-bearing structure 12 comprises a substantially
horizontal upper crosspiece 20, a substantially horizontal lower
crosspiece 22 and two vertical uprights 24 linking the crosspieces
20 and 22.
[0040] The load-bearing structure 12 further comprises two lateral
parts 26 suitable for providing for it to be mounted either on
length pieces (not represented) of the body shell of the vehicle,
or for accommodating equipment related to the vehicle, such as
optical units of headlights.
[0041] The module 10 is mounted on the load-bearing structure 12 by
means of four damping studs 28 engaging respectively in four
receiving blocks 30 projecting from the load-bearing structure 12.
More particularly, the mounting device comprises two receiving
blocks 30 projecting from the upper crosspiece 20 and respectively
carrying two damping studs 28 suitable for bearing on the upper
manifold 16, as well as two other receiving blocks 30 projecting
from the lower crosspiece 22 and suitable respectively for
receiving two damping studs 28 bearing against the lower manifold
18.
[0042] The structure of a damping stud 28 will now be described by
reference to FIG. 2. The stud 28 is produced, in the example
described, in a single piece made from an elastically deformable
material, which may be natural or synthetic rubber, for example, or
an elastomer material.
[0043] The damping stud 28 comprises a body 31, of generally
rectangular-box shape, featuring two opposite side faces 32 into
which two grooves 34 of rectangular cross section open out, which
extend parallel to each other and parallel to the faces 32. These
grooves 34 extend from a front face 36 back to a rear face 38.
[0044] Moreover, the stud 28 comprises a lateral extension 40 of
generally rectangular-box shape, which is attached to the body 31
and is delimited, on one side, by the abovementioned rear face 38.
On the opposite side, the lateral extension 40 is delimited by a
face 42 which is connected at right angles to a face 44 of the body
31. These faces 42 and 44 form a bearing surface with a bent shape
matching the shape of the manifold 16 or 18 of the module 10. On
the opposite side to the face 44, the body 31 possesses an upper
face 46 which includes a central recess 48.
[0045] Moreover, the damping stud 28 comprises a retaining tooth 50
formed in projection in a groove 34. The stud may comprise either a
single retaining tooth, or two retaining teeth, the function of
which will be explained later.
[0046] FIG. 3 will now be referred to to describe a part of the
load-bearing structure 12. A part of the upper crosspiece 20 and a
part of a vertical upright 24 are seen in FIG. 3. It will be
understood that the two crosspieces 20 and 22 and the two uprights
24 form a frame delimiting a central aperture 52, of generally
rectangular shape, matching the shape of the body 14 of the module
10, so as to allow an airflow to sweep the tube bank 14 and to pass
through the aperture 52.
[0047] The receiving block 30 comprises two face-to-face parallel
ribs 54 which extend parallel to each other and perpendicularly to
the plane of the load-bearing structure 12. These ribs 54 are
intended to interact by sliding with the grooves 34 of a block in
order to allow it to be held in position with respect to the
load-bearing structure 12. The ribs 54 and the grooves 34 have
cross sections of complementary shapes and are able to interact
under friction.
[0048] The two ribs 54 of the receiving block 30 are attached to
two opposite side walls 56 suitable for framing the two side faces
32 of a damping stud 28. The side walls 56 are attached
perpendicularly to a back wall 58 of the receiving block, this back
wall being formed directly on the upper crosspiece 20.
[0049] Moreover, the two side walls 56 are attached to a third side
wall 60 which is itself attached perpendicularly to the back wall
58. It will be understood that the two side walls 56 carrying the
ribs 54, as well as the side wall 60 and the back wall 58 define a
housing with a shape matching a stud 28. When this stud is inserted
into the housing thus defined, the rear face 38 comes to bear
against the back wall 58 and the upper face 46 comes to bear
against the side wall 60, so that this stud is completely
immobilized. Moreover, the teeth 50 of the stud 28 come to bear
against the corresponding rib or ribs of the receiving block 30 so
as to contribute to immobilizing the stud in position.
[0050] The other three receiving blocks 30 are of similar shape and
are configured in such a way that their respective ribs 54 are
parallel to each other so as to define a common mounting direction,
as represented by the arrows F in FIG. 5.
[0051] In order to fit the heat exchanger, first of all the four
receiving studs 28 are put in place then the module 10 is engaged
by force, such that the respective manifolds 16 and 18 of the
module come to bear against the corresponding bearing faces of the
studs, each bearing face being formed by the face 42 and the face
44 of the said stud.
[0052] In order to complete the fixing of the heat exchanger, the
load-bearing structure comprises four clipping lugs 62, grouped
together in pairs on the uprights 24.
[0053] These clipping lugs protrude from the uprights and each
interact with a boss 64 projecting from the manifolds of the
cooling module (FIG. 5).
[0054] Thus the cooling module is mounted perfectly on the
load-bearing structure with damping, avoiding the transmission of
vibration, while being retained by the lugs 62 in its permanent
position.
[0055] The mounting and the fixing of the cooling module take place
under particularly simple conditions, without requiring specific
tooling.
[0056] In the variant embodiment of FIG. 6, the damping stud 28
further comprises a central recess 66 opening out on the front face
36 and the rear face 38 and suitable for increasing the flexibility
of the damping stud in at least one chosen region.
[0057] Clearly, the invention is not limited to the embodiment
described above by way of example and extends to other
variants.
[0058] It will be understood that the configuration of the damping
studs should be matched to that of the equipment to be mounted and
that the same is true for the receiving blocks 30.
[0059] Although, in theory, the equipment can be held by only three
damping studs interacting with three damping studs, it is
preferred, in the majority of cases, to use four damping studs
engaged in four receiving blocks, in order to improve the behavior
of the equipment.
[0060] Moreover, although in the example described the load-bearing
structure consists of a front facade, it is possible to provide for
the receiving blocks to be carried by two crosspieces directly
forming part of the structure or of the body shell of the
vehicle.
* * * * *